How a Carmel mom saved her autistic son's future with 'No Label at the Table' bakery

No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum.
Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

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Jacob Wittman, from left, his mom Shelly Henley, and Jessica Reed show a tray of Snickerdoodles, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)Buy Photo

CARMEL -- It was after a long pause while sitting in his family's kitchen in Carmel, with a half-finished ingredient list beside him, that Jacob Wittman found the words to describe his co-workers at the bakery business he and his mother started.

"Teammates," he said. "Friends."

His mom, Shelly Henley, raised her hand to her mouth in surprise for a fraction of second before blinking back tears and rubbing his back. "That's right, Jacob," she beamed.

Part of the surprise was that Jacob offered so many accurate words. He is on the autism spectrum and has a hard time verbalizing what he's thinking. He's much better at coming up with numbers.

While baking, Henley said they needed to make 56 brownies and 12 fit per pan. How many pans would they need? Jacob paused for a moment. "Four and two-thirds," he said before anyone else was close to an answer. He's the best guy to have around when you're trying to figure out a tip, Henley joked.

But what really brought tears to Henley's eyes that day was the word "friends." There was a time when she thought Jacob would never have friends — not really.

Autism spectrum disorders are a set of neurodevelopmental disabilities that affect people's ability to interact and communicate, according to the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. There are a range of symptoms and severities, which is why it is referred to as a spectrum. Autism is now thought to affect 1 in 68 children and as many as 5 million adults in the U.S.

Attending school became too difficult for Jacob. It was causing him anxiety, which is common with people on the spectrum. He is finishing his coursework at home through Hoosier Academy, where he can work at his own pace.

As a result, the only people he would interact with were Henley, his father Jeff Wittman, his brother, his piano instructor and his behavior therapist. They were paying people to take him to the movies, Henley said, which was heartbreaking.

It's a sad reality for many young adults on the spectrum who stop receiving services through school when they are 22 and are unemployed.

"The kids just fall off the cliff," Henley said, "and are left at home to collect disability and watch TV."

Two-thirds of people with autism have no educational or job plans in the first two years after finishing high school, according to a 2015 study by the A.J. Drexel Autism Insitute.

Only 35 percent of 18-year-olds with autism go to college, according to Integrate Autism Employment Advisors, and unemployment among college graduates with autism is high: 85 percent.

Determined not to let Jacob, now 20, be a statistic, Henley asked him what he wanted to do as an adult. Just like she was pouring time and resources into helping their other son, Sam, prepare for his future — he has an eye on the Ivy League universities — she wanted to do the same for Jacob.

Jacob had always enjoyed cooking with his mom and said he wanted to be a restaurant chef. Henley figured there was no way.

She started looking at opening a franchise where Jacob could work, but she said that was a huge expense and really just reheating food.

Finally, they settled on creating a bakery to sell gluten- and diary-free goods on Saturdays at the Fishers and Carmel farmer's markets. That's how No Label at the Table Food Company was started.

Why call it that? "No label or diagnosis will define my employees, and no food label should limit someone to not having good food," Henley said.

In six weeks, the small operation has created a future for more than just Jacob.

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Volunteer Diane Laramore, left, works with Jessica Reed on labeling and packaging of food items on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Volunteer Matt Stephens, left, helps Jacob Wittman as they make brownies, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son, Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Snickerdoodles sit on a rack to cool, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Shelly Henley, center, asks her son Jacob Wittman, right, to shake something, as volunteer Matt Stephens left, looks on, during No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Henley started the company with her son, Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Jacob Wittman breaks some eggs into the mix as he makes brownies, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Volunteer Matt Stephens, left, helps Jacob Wittman as they make brownies, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son, Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Volunteer Matt Stephens, left, helps Jacob Wittman as they make brownies, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son, Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Brownies are just out of the oven, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Shelly Henley, right, works with staff, including volunteer Diane Laramore, left, and Connor Haupt, center, during No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Shelly Henley rolls cookie dough, making Snickerdoodles, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Shelly Henley places a tray of brownies on a rack to cool, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

A cart with supplies sits in the kitchen on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Jessica Reed labels and packages corn loaves, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Gluten and dairy free maple bacon corn loaves are packaged and labeled, ready for sale, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Shelly Henley shows a cookie cutter in the shape of the Autism logo, that is used on some of the pies made at No Label at the Table. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Jacob Wittman, from left, his mom Shelly Henley, and Jessica Reed show a tray of Snickerdoodles, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

Jessica Reed pauses, getting ready to do dishes, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum. Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

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Fridays are baking days, and Jacob is clearly in his element. He moves slowly, but purposefully. He knows where everything is in the commercial kitchen space in Fishers they rent for the day, pulling the electric scale out from under some bowls on their shelf.

His facial expression doesn't change much, but Henley said there are other ways to tell he's happy. For example, he was up at 7 a.m. That was never the case for school. He'll also put off his breaks, instead taking his turn to wash dishes.

Henley and Jacob have been creating recipes together for a long time becuase Jacob had to go on a gluten- and dairy-free diet as a toddler. Back then, there were few bakery items that fit their dietary restrictions, and what they could buy, Shelly compared to a "Styrofoam brick."

So she pulled the mixer out of the cabinet and they got to work. First came chocolate cake, then an adaptation of grandma's snickerdoodles, pizza crust and sandwich bread.

They have hundreds of recipes they've created together, and they keep adding to No Label at the Table's selection each week.

On Wednesday, Henley and Jacob plan the menu and experiment with recipes, Thursday is prep day and Friday they bake around 1,000 individual servings of goodies to sell for a few dollars each on Saturday. The most popular items are the $2 snickerdoodles and brownies packages. They will sell out by 10 a.m. The maple bacon corn loaf costs $5.

Fridays start with a detailed task list Henley makes, which includes "put on hat" and "wash hands." It's just as much to keep herself on track, Henley says, as she speeds around the kitchen getting everything and everyone in place. She's working 18-hour days to make this happen.

This particular Friday, June 9, they have to try to get done early because they have a bride coming in for a tasting — their first wedding gig.

"(Jacob's) going to be part of a wedding," Henley said, amazed. "A couple of weeks ago I couldn’t imagine just being a guest."

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Jessica Reed labels and packages corn loaves, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)

There are two other employees in the kitchen with Jacob and Henley, and two behavior therapists. Henley has hired six employees, all who have autism. She's looking for two more to help with CarmelFest, a large, two-day Independence Day celebration in Carmel Civic Square that Henley hopes will launch them into being able to afford their own kitchen space.

Rather than plugging employees into predetermined roles — or, as Henley calls them, "cookie-cutter" positions — the business is built around their strengths.

For example, Jessica Reed enjoys packaging and labeling the food. She's not one to get her hands dirty, although Henley makes sure she washes her fair share of dishes. As a result, Henley said she'll oversee the online T-shirt sales when their website launches. Two other employees tried out the bakery, but prefer to work the market booths.

People on the spectrum are great employees, Henley said. She wants all employers to know they are loyal, honest and detail-oriented, which is why they shouldn't be pushed into volunteer positions, as often happens.

"All of the work that they do has value," Henley said. She pays her employees $8 per hour. One employee is saving up for a car. Another for college.

Jessica spent her first paycheck on a Hatchimal toy she'd been eyeing. After the next paycheck, her mother, Patty Reed, took her to open a bank account. It's a life skill Reed worried her daughter would never learn.

"If it wasn’t for (Henley), I don’t think there would be another opportunity for Jessica," she said.

Jessica was facing the same isolation as Jacob, Reed said. Her paid care-givers were her only friends, and she could only find volunteer work. Jessica may learn slowly, but she has the capacity to learn new skills and become more independent.

"I'm hoping more parents would see: (Henley) can do it, I can do it, too," Reed said. "If we parents don't start doing something for our kids, nobody will. Nobody else will create (opportunities) for them."

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Jacob Wittman shows a tray of Snickerdoodles, as his mom Shelly Henley, left, applauds, on No Label at the Table's baking day, in Fishers, Friday, June 9, 2017. No Label at the Table is a gluten/dairy-free food company whose mission is to give employment opportunities to people on the autism spectrum. They also give job skills training to those employees. Shelly Henley started the company with her son Jacob Wittman, who is on the spectrum.(Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)